Monday, July 18, we were awakened in the middle of the night by thunder, lightening and rain. But when we got up this morning things didn't look too wet. Not only that the dang humidity is still hanging around. After breakfast I tried to call and make reservations in Dallas for my niece, Megan's, wedding in September. Even though the cell phone shows 'all the bars' here and I have a Digital signal as soon as the guy in Dallas answered the phone we would get cut off. Marge had told me the other day she thought Cingular was one of the only cell services that worked here in the park. Maybe the clouds are to blame. I'll call later from Cheboygan.Around 12:15 we drove the 30 mile or so up to Cheboygan State Park and got our very first glimpse of Lake Huron! We found the Trailhead by Poe's Reef Cabin (where the Poe Reef Lighthouse keeper lives!) and fought our way through one quarter mile of woods teaming with mosquitoes. We were quite relieved to emerge onto the beach and feel the glorious breeze. The beach is not nearly as picturesque here as on the western shore of Lake Michigan. But as the afternoon wore on the hazy clouds dissipated and the deep blue color returned to the water. On the eastern end of the beach, offshore in the waters of Lake Huron, sits Poe Reef Light. Starting in 1893, four lightships took turns marking this dangerous reef until this permanent light was build in 1929. Its signature black and white bands serve as an easily identifiable daymark.
On the western end of the beach you see Fourteen Foot Shoal Light, marking the entrance to Cheboygan Harbor. Built in 1930, this light was never manned. It was originally radio controlled, representing one of the earliest attempts at off-site operation. We walked down far enough on the beach where I could get a closer shot of this lighthouse. It sits up on a high concrete embankment. Cheboygan State Park is the site of the Cheboygan Point Light. All that remains on shore today is the foundation. We did not walk westward far enough to see the remnants of this once operating lighthouse. In 1851, the Cheboygan Point Light was originally built on a pier in Lake Huron, but due to rough water and winter ice, it only lasted a few years. In 1859, it was rebuilt on the shore and was in operation until 1930 by the United States Lighthouse Service. It was at this time that the lighthouse and surrounding properties were conveyed to the State of Michigan for public park use.
We walked along for a half hour or so with the hot sun beating down on us. Then we shed our shoes and waded out into Lake Huron. The water was cool and got much cooler as you got about 10 yards out from shore. The rock hunting was not nearly as good here as in Lake Michigan where the glacial rocks collected along the western shore. We braced for another run back through the mosquitoes in the woods. We drive back west on 23 towards Cheboygan and found Indo China Gardens, Chinese and Thai Cuisines, across the street from an old motel with a sign out front that said "Snow mobile pickup from the motel." We both ordered Thai dishes. I had Pad Park; stir-fried mushrooms, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, baby corn, carrots, broccoli, bok choy and coconut milk with shrimp, chicken and pork. Bob had a similar dish but he got the HOT version. Even though he ordered Medium Hot, he said it was quite spicy. Both were very good and came with one of the best Egg Drop Soups we've ever had.
We drove back east on 23 to the K-Mart shopping center and found Cheboygan Used Books (over 30,000 titles in stock.) It was all very neatly organized but we didn't find anything that we look for. I bought four postcards for $1.00 and we headed home, stopping at the office to get a paper, mail some cards and get two rolls of quarters. Back home we sat outside in a much stiffer afternoon breeze and read the paper. Jack from across the street came over and introduced himself. He's from canyon Lake, Texas. We talked about Austin traffic and road construction. Nice to meet someone from back home.
I'm updating journal pages. There is supposed to be a big front coming in tonight bringing rain and cooler temperatures. I guess that's what all of this wind is about. Anyway we have the windows open and no A/C.
It's 8:51 p.m. and 78.7 degrees.